Sustainability

By the very nature of our
business we act as a mass mover of the public helping to reduce the number of
vehicles on Somerset’s roads. Our trains can accommodate up to 400 passengers
per trip and on busy days we can accommodate up to 3,000 passengers per day.

Most of our stations are on a bus route therefore customers can then connect
with onward bus
services away from and to the railway.
The
Moor Rover is a unique demand responsive
service providing access to areas within Exmoor National Park that are not
otherwise served by public transport helping you to get the most out of the
Exmoor National Park whether for walking, cycling or any other leisure
activity.

We have set up partnership with
other attractions and accommodation
providers using a connecting bus service, this
again reduces vehicle movements allowing our customers to use ‘public
transport’ without the need for a car.

We regularly team up with First
Great Western and other providers to run shuttle trains or Charters from other
parts of the country off the main line and through to Minehead. This
helps reduce vehicle movements from those parts of the country to West
Somerset.

We recycle paper and cardboard
waste and will shortly be introducing glass and can/tin recycling.

Our catering outlets use local
suppliers where possible and promote these businesses to our customers, a good
example being our Cheese
and Cider Special where we issue an information
sheet with the suppliers contact details and information.

We work with local community
groups and schools along the line. We provide talks and guided tours of the
railway to school groups. Our most popular option is our ‘Evacuee Specials’.
Where children experience what it was like to be evacuated by train in wartime
conditions and how the re-homing process occurred.

The West Somerset Railway
features in the Countryside,
history & coast car free day out on the Visit Somerset web site. The cra free day out allows you to
explore Somerset without a car and includes the West Somerset Railway, Museums
and fossil hunting at Watchet, Cleeve Abbey, Torre Cider Farm and the Old
Harbour at Minehead